Smokeless Tobacco Study Weighed By Kansas Lawmakers In R.J. Reynolds-Backed Resolution

Kansas lawmakers are considering a resolution that would require state health officials to conduct a study about the health effects of smokeless tobacco, potentially allowing the state to market smokeless tobacco as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. The Federal and State Affairs Committee of Kansas' House of Representatives has been debating a measure that would require the state's Department of Health and Environment to conduct a study of the health effects of using smokeless tobacco -- commonly known as chewing tobacco -- to determine if it is safer than cigarette smoking. One goal of the resolution is for the state health department to ultimately make a recommendation to the legislature as to whether Kansas should promote smokeless tobacco over cigarette smoking.

The Kansas proposal follows the passage of recent similar resolutions in Nebraska, Indiana and Kentucky -- all backed by R.J. Reynolds. Richard J. Smith, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds, confirmed that his company has been encouraging the state-based studies. Such studies are in keeping with the company's "tobacco harm reduction" strategy, he told HuffPost. R.J. Reynolds has found scientific evidence showing that chewing tobacco does not pose the same health risks as cigarette smoking, he said. "We believe that tobacco products should be regulated in a manner that achieves health," Smith said. To handle the lobbying in Topeka the tobacco company has hired to the Republican-leaning Hein law firm, which is headed by former Sen.

Ronald Hein of Kansas and his wife Julie; their son, Derek, is involved with the main lobbying for the measure. Both Ron and Julie Hein have co-chaired the Kansas chapter of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Ron and Derek Hein declined to comment on the measure, referring all questions to R.J. Reynolds. The committee is scheduled to debate the measure on Tuesday or Wednesday. There is support for the measure in the committee, resolution opponents said. "R.J. Reynolds is the force behind it," said Chris Masoner, the chief Kansas lobbyist for the American Cancer Society. "There are several members of the committee receptive to the idea, which boggles my mind, but maybe it shouldn't."

 The cancer society opposes the measure, citing concern about smokeless tobacco's potential cancer link, including a risk for oral cancer, Masoner said. State public health officials should not conduct research for an industry, he said. Supporters of the measure have said the study would not cost additional taxpayer funds. "We don't need to encourage people to trade one carcinogen for another," Masoner said. The resolution is being sponsored by the committee and not an individual legislator but has attracted bipartisan interest. House Minority Leader Paul Davis (D-Lawrence) said he helped devise the final wording, calling for a study first instead of an outright legislative declaration in favor of smokeless tobacco. He was first approached about the resolution by Hein, Davis said.